San Francisco Real Estate - Janice Lee

Tesla is working on a battery that can power your home and even help large-scale utilities store energy more efficiently, according to company chief executive Elon Musk. On an investor call Wednesday, Musk said the designs for a home or business battery are already complete and will likely be unveiled to the public "in the next month or two." Production could be as little as six months away, he added. "It's really great. I'm really excited about it," said Musk. While there's no word yet on price, Tesla's battery and charging technology could ultimately wind up saving you money on your electric bill. Although many of today's homes draw energy directly from the electricity grid, the spread of cheap solar panels means it's never been easier to generate some of your own energy. Storing renewables efficiently has been a big bottleneck for consumers and for utilities alike, but if Tesla's stationary battery takes off, it could change ...

All the ingredients for a red-hot housing market in the Bay Area are there – a robust economy, tech companies that are churning out high-paying jobs, very strong demand from well-qualified buyers, and home prices that are climbing at a healthy pace. The only thing that’s missing is enough homes for anxious buyers to purchase. While inventory has edged up in some areas lately, it’s still way too low to satisfy buyer demand, and that’s clearly having an impact on sales.

Two recent housing reports confirm what homebuyers and sellers already know: home prices have surged over the past year, especially in the Bay Area. But the bump in mortgage interest rates in recent months may be slowing those gains a bit and could lead to a more balanced market. S&P/Case-Shiller’s most recent home price index showed prices in the nation’s 20 largest cities rose 12.1 percent over last year. The San Francisco metropolitan area had the second biggest jump in prices, surging 24.5 percent year over year. Las Vegas at 24.9 percent led all cities. Others in the top five were Los Angeles (19.9 percent), Phoenix (19.8 percent) and San Diego (19.3 percent). According to the report, which was based on June figures, prices in Dallas and Denver hit all-time highs, while San Francisco housing prices turned in the biggest rebound, rising 47% from their low in March 2009. But analysts say the gains may be slowing as interest rates move higher. June marked the first time ...

La Jolla, CA.--The number of homes sold in the Bay Area increased on a year-over-year basis for the sixteenth month in a row in October while the median price paid rose for the sixth month, the result of a gradual rebalancing of the real estate market. Mortgage availability remains an issue, a real estate information service reported.  A total of 7,795 new and resale homes were sold in the nine-county Bay Area last month. That was up 13.8 percent from 6,850 in September, and up 21.0 percent from 6,444 for October 2011, according to San Diego-based DataQuick. 

La Jolla, CA.--The median price paid for a Bay Area home rose to its highest level in more than four years in September, the result of a slowly improving economy, low mortgage interest rates and shifts in market mix, a real estate information service reported. The median price paid for new and resale homes in the nine-county Bay Area rose to $429,000 last month. That was up 4.6 percent from $410,000 in August and up 17.5 percent from $365,000 in September a year ago. It was the highest since August 2008 when it was $447,000, according to San Diego-based DataQuick. The low point of the current real estate cycle was $290,000 in March 2009, while the peak was $665,000 in June/July 2007. About half of the median’s peak-to-trough drop, as well as the median’s 17.5 percent increase over the last year, can be attributed to a shift in the sales mix. For example, foreclosure resales are at half the level of a year ago. And the number of homes that sold last month for less ...

445 Francisco Street #102 is a beautiful loft at the historical landmark, North Beach Malt House. The one bedroom, one and a half bathroom condo features an open living space with soaring ceilings and is ideal for entertaining. The condo also features hardwood floors and large double-paned windows to provide lots of natural light. The kitchen is equipped with granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, dishwasher, kitchen bar, pull-out cutting board, under-cabinet lights, and a microwave that vents to the outside. On the lower level, there is a spacious half bathroom with a large vanity and recessed lights. The upper level features a spacious bedroom, gorgeous master bathroom with double sinks, built-in cabinetry, and a large, beautiful walk-in closet with custom built-in cabinetry. An in-unit stackable washer/dryer, deeded parking complete this chic home. The spacious, lush courtyard features the Malt House fountain bui...

Now that the housing market is picking up once again, a growing number of first-time homebuyers are jumping in, attracted by relatively low home prices in some areas and historically low mortgage interest rates. In fact, many first time homebuyers have discovered that for the first time in years it’s actually cheaper to own a home than it is to rent one. The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard recently reported that the median priced home in the U.S. (when calculated in today’s dollars) is roughly half as much as it was in 1990! And as rents have steadily risen in recent years, the Harvard study found that mortgage payments on the median U.S. home is now 23 percent less than rent payments for the same home. So as new buyers look to take advantage of this great opportunity, what are they looking for in their first home – and what do they need to know about buying real estate for the first time? We thought it would be interesting to take a look at the wants an...

The Bay Area posted its strongest home sales for the month of August in six years, the result of low mortgage interest rates, an improving economy and increasing demand in mid- to move-up market segments. The median price paid for a home eased back a notch from June and July, but was well ahead of last year for the fifth consecutive month, a real estate information service reported.

So much for a summer slowdown in the housing market! Bay Area home prices surged to a four-year high in July and the region turned in its 13th consecutive month of year-over year sales increases, according to a new report out this week from DataQuick, the La Jolla-based real estate information services company. . The median sale price for all new and existing homes in the nine-county Bay Area jumped 12.6 percent to $421,000 from $374,000 a year ago and the highest price since August 2008. Sales gains were even more dramatic with 8,461 properties changing hands, nearly 23 percent more than a year ago. If there was any doubt left that our housing market is on the rise I think this spring and summer’s performance should put that to an end. The median price increase can be attributed to fewer distressed home sales and more “normal” market activity. Additionally, the shortage of inventory for sale is resulting in buyers bidding up prices on the relative few homes ou...

25 Sparta St, San Francisco, CA 94134     MLS #399863 Spacious 5 bedroom 4 bath detached corner home on three levels built in 1984 with NO RENT CONTROL with approximately 2819 sqft. 25 Sparta features an open living room, kitchen and dining room.  The living room has a wood burning fireplace, recessed and track lighting with hardwood floors and a balcony to enjoy San Francisco and water views.  Remodeled bathrooms with modern granite vanity, oversized mirror and TOTO toilets.  Nice oak kitchen cabinets and granite counters.  Fresh interior designer paint colors, refinished hardwood floors and abundant light through double pane windows and skylights. Independent front and back yard access. 2 car side by side independent garage space. Only three blocks to Portola District. Close to San Bruno shops, restaurants and easy freeway access. Renovated 5 Bedroom 4 Bath Corner Home Approximately 2819 Square Feet Per Appraiser NO RENT ...

The Bay Area’s housing market continued to heat up as summer got underway in June, with sales jumping 7.2 percent from a year ago and the median sale price surging to its highest level in nearly four years, according to a report released this week by DataQuick, the La Jolla-based real estate information services firm. According to DataQuick, the median price for all housing rose 10.4 percent in the nine-county Bay Area last month to $417,000, up from $377,750 last June and $400,000 in May. That was the highest median price for the region since August 2008. What’s causing the steady increase in the Bay Area median? While it’s pretty clear that all real estate is starting to appreciate once again, DataQuick analysts also suspect that it’s the result of an ongoing shift in the types of homes selling, slightly improved mortgage loan availability, and continued record low interest rates. My sense is that it’s also a simple matter of supply and demand here in the Ba...